<i>Half-hearted honour for a language martyr</i>

Panchua renamed Jabber Nagar in 1987 sees no development so far

20 February 2010, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Jabber Nagar, the village home of Language Movement martyr Abdul Jabber, is yet to see adequate development initiatives although the authorities constructed a Shaheed Minar and a library and museum complex at the village. Earlier named Panchua, the village about four kilometres from Gafargoan upazila headquarters in Mymensingh district, was renamed Jabber Nagar on March 25 in 2007 as token of respect to the language martyr. In 2005, authorities constructed a Shaheed Minar at the village home of Abdul Jabber and 21st February was observed there under government initiatives. In 2008, a museum and a library complex was constructed at a cost of Tk 63 lakh there and Language Movement veteran Abdul Matin inaugurated it. But the roads leading to Jabber Nagar have not been developed for smooth plying of vehicles and the village is still out of total electricity coverage, said several villages. The library needs sufficient books and daily newspapers and more staff for its good running, said librarian Manjurul Ahsan. A primary school established in 1998 in the village after the name of the language martyr is yet to be nationalised. The villagers have demanded setting up of more educational institutions at Jabber Nagar after the name of Abdul Jabber to make the locals enlightened. "The administration should take proper steps for development of the village," said Abdul Jabber's son Nurul Islam Badal, also a freedom fighter. He also alleged that an influential person has grabbed 44-decimal land of his father's homestead. "Initiatives are on for all-out development of Jabber Nagar. A gate will be constructed soon at the village in honour of the language martyr," said Gafargoan Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khen Chan.